According to a recent internet rumour, Google will launch a white version of the Google Nexus 4 smartphone on June 10, and it will come packing Android 4.3.
We didn't see any new Nexus devices at Google I/O 2013, nor did we see anything of the next iteration of the Android OS. It seems Google will be addressing both (in a sense) with the launch of a new shade of Google Nexus 4, if Android and Me is to be believed.
The Android-focused website claims to have obtained a white Google Nexus 4 unit at Google's recent showcase event. Such a device has been rumoured - and even pictured - a couple of times since the turn of the year.
The real point of interest here is that the new Nexus 4 unit was apparently running Android 4.3. If true, it suggests that Google deliberately chose not to focus on its new Android OS during Google I/O. That's an unusual move.
According to the report, Google intentionally bumped the new version of Android because it wanted to prove that it could make meaningful changes to its services and APIs without changing the operating system itself.
With persistent grumbles as to the slow roll-out of firmware updates on non-stock Android-running smartphones, it's easy to see why such an idea would be appealing.
Still, Android 4.3 itself is expected to be a relatively minor update, with support for Bluetooth Smart and possibly OpenGL ES 3.0 included. If the June 10 date sticks, expect to see the Google Nexus 4, Google Nexus 7, and Google Nexus 10 getting updates pretty sharpish.
Check out our Google I/O 2013 round-up to see what was announced at Google's big annual shindig.
